Chapter 29
SAGE
“I can’t believe you’re living with Dalton now,” Rosie says to me as we hang out near the bar, waiting for some customers to come into the restaurant.
“I’m not living with him forever. You already know why I’m staying with him for a temporary amount of time.”
“That’s crazy that the guy became such a psychopath,” Rosie says. “What has gone on in the world that men think it’s okay to stalk women just because they’re no longer interested?”
“Tell me about it,” I say. “But I guess he got upset because Dalton had given me information, which is the reason why I dumped him. And then he had Dalton investigated, I suppose. That’s rich-people games.”
“Not anything we know about,” she says with a giggle.
“Exactly.”
Izzy and Lucia walk up to us, and Lucia gives me a big hug.
“I’m sorry you’re staying with my brother. I can’t imagine it’s fun. Or maybe it is,” she says, winking at me.
“Nothing like that is going on. I’m only staying there because that Parker dude threatened me and basically threatened Toby and Dalton as well.” I lower my voice just in case the one customer who’s sitting in the dining room is listening.
“I’m glad my brother told you the truth finally,” Lucia says with a sorrowful expression. “I really didn’t want to lie to you, but it really wasn’t my place to say. Plus, I didn’t want to lose you as a best friend. Well, one of my new best friends.” She looks over at Izzy, who giggles.
“Yeah, I’m so glad you know. I know when I found out that Lucia was part of a Mafia family, I nearly threw up,” Izzy says in a low voice. “I mean, you can only imagine the shock and awe I was in.”
“Actually, I think we can,” Rosie says with a laugh. “By the way, have you heard from Colton?”
“Oh, yeah, he tried to call me, begged me to take him back, said he was breaking up with Kendra that night.” Izzy rolls her eyes. “Yeah, okay. I don’t believe that. Now that the fog is finally lifting, I’m realizing what a freaking idiot I was.”
“We’ve all been there,” Rosie says with a smile.
“Yep, we have,” Lucia says.
“Well, I’m not going to say anything, seeing as I’m in a weird situation with your brother.”
“You know you have my full support. I love, love, love, love my brother, and I love Toby even more than that, but you’re a good girl, and I want you to be happy, so whatever happens between you guys, I only hope it doesn’t ruin what we have.” She nods at all of us.
“I promise you it won’t. Scout’s honor, Brownie’s honor,” I say, and she smiles.
The door to the restaurant opens, and we all look forward eagerly, hoping it’s going to be a large party. My heart sinks when I see it’s Brett.
“You want to take this one?” I say to Rosie, thinking about what Dalton told me about him.
“No, I’m okay.” She looks over at Brett longingly and then back at me. “You know, I’ve learned my lesson. I’m not chasing guys who aren’t into me.”
“How did you learn that?” I ask her in surprise.
“I don’t know. Maybe watching that movie, He’s Just Not That Into You, the other night with Izzy.”
“I made her watch it because I feel like we’re kind of the same personality,” Izzy says. “We so badly want to be in love, but we’ve got to go for the right guys, and emotionally unavailable men and manipulative men are not the men for us.”
“Okay, I guess I will take this one then,” I say as I head over to Brett. “Hey, welcome to Mama’s Kitchen.”
“I’m actually not here to eat,” he says. “I’m here to talk to you.”
There’s a serious expression on his face, and I nod my assent.
“Do you want to go to the break room?” I ask.
“Sure.”
We walk slowly by the bar, and he offers a look to Jimmy.
“Good afternoon, Jimmy,” Brett says.
Jimmy nods and then turns back to cleaning his glasses.
“It’s a really strange week that we’ve got going on with the weather,” Brett says to Jimmy, who slowly turns back around.
“Wouldn’t know. Haven’t really been outside,” he says. He looks at me, and then he looks back at Brett. “Best to just concentrate on the weather we have now, don’t you think? Not what may be coming?”
Brett nods. “Let’s chat, Sage.”
We enter the break room, and Brett closes the door.
“We should have a seat. I’m afraid I have some not-so-great news for you.”
“Okay, and what’s that?”
“Two things. Firstly, the threat from Parker is real. He is very rich; he comes from a very prominent family. He has a lot of connections. He doesn’t like to be told no.”
“Okay.”
“And he’s a little bit of a psychopath. He has stalked and threatened many women, so you’re going to have to stay with Dalton for a little bit longer.
Unfortunately, Parker’s family is not necessarily on the up-and-up.
They’re not part of any Mafia family, but his father does have some contacts in Russia, who connected him to the Bratva in California, especially in Southern California.
And, well, as you know, they’re not too happy with the Leones right now. ”
“But what does that have to do with me?”
“They think you’re his girl.”
“Whose girl?” I ask loudly.
He frowns. “They think that you are Dalton’s girl based on information Parker gave them.”
“How do you know this?”
“I have sources. So, right now, I’m trying to take care of the Parker threat while also minimizing the Bratva threat.
The good news is that Dalton is no longer mafioso, so he doesn’t really offer any risk to the Bratva.
I don’t know if they’re that interested in getting custody of Toby, seeing as Dalton did go through legal channels.
However, yeah, there is still a threat to you.
We don’t know what Parker is capable of, so until I can ensure he’s going to be prosecuted and arrested without bail, I would like you to stay with Dalton. ”
“What about what I want? Maybe I don’t want to stay with him. Maybe I want to stay with Rosie, Lucia, and Izzy.”
“And we don’t want you to stay with them because that will just put a threat on their backs. I’m sorry.”
“Okay, well, that’s bad news. Is there good news to come or …”
He shakes his head. “So, I’ve been in contact with your father.”
“Oh.” My eyes light up.
“And unfortunately, he’s married with kids. His wife doesn’t know he has another child out there. She’s particularly jealous.”
“But did he have me before he married her? Would she be upset?”
“It’s going to be a no-go, Sage,” he says, shaking his head. “Unfortunately, this is not a situation that is going to have a happy ending. Your dad is, for all intents and purposes, cut off to you. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh. I’m not really sure how else to say it.”
I can feel tears welling up in my eyes. The information has been too much. I feel heartbroken. I feel sad. I feel like nobody wants me. Nobody needs me. I feel like everything in the world is crashing in around me, and I don’t know what to do.
Maybe this is the consequence of fooling around with a man with a son.
I remember the way Toby held my hand and squeezed it, the way he looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said he wished I could be his mommy.
And at that moment, I wanted to say, I want to be your mommy too.
But when I looked over at Dalton with his stoic expression, I could tell he was horrified by what Toby had said.
He is not interested in marrying me. He is not interested in being in a relationship with me. All he wants from me is sex, and it’s not even like I can blame him. I knew from the get-go that he wasn’t looking for the same thing that I was.
“I’m sorry, did you need me to explain that again?” Brett says.
I blink rapidly at him. I completely spaced out, and I’m not sure what he just said.
“If it’s about my dad, go ahead, I guess. Is there any way I can speak to him, maybe go reason with him? Maybe if he sees me and—”
Brett lets out a deep sigh and rubs his forehead. “I don’t know what to say. At this time, it’s a no-go.”
“What do you mean, at this time? Is there possibly a time when—”
I see that he’s clenching his fist, and he looks upset about something.
“This is why I don’t like to get involved in these things,” he mutters under his breath and shakes his head.
“I don’t know what to tell you. I just …
I think that your dad is making a good decision.
There’s enough going on in your life right now, and you really don’t want to cause yourself any more harm, nor do you want to bring harm into Rosie’s life.
” He pauses. “Is she doing okay? Is she dating anyone? I noticed that—”
“You noticed what? That she’s not flirting with you like she used to? What did you expect? You completely ignored her. You gave her nothing back. Did you think she was just going to keep flirting with you like a fool?”
He presses his lips together. “That’s not why I brought her up.” He mumbles over his words.
I’m surprised. I’ve never seen Brett like this before. He always seems so calm and in control.
“Look, I don’t even want to talk about this right now. I’m sorry.”
“Did you have any other news to give me?”
“No, that’s it.”
“Okay, well, I need to speak to my sister.” I head to the door, and I’m surprised when he steps forward and holds it open for me.
“Ladies first,” he says.
Who knew he’d be so polite?
“Thank you.”
I hurry out, and I see Lucia, Izzy, and Rosie all standing there with expectant looks on their faces.
“Did you hear anything?” Rosie asks.
I nod slightly and gasp. She rushes over and grabs me.
“He doesn’t want to know me.”
I can’t stop the tears from coming. They release like a dam is broken and run down my face uncontrollably. I sob as she holds me close, and I feel Izzy and Lucia next to me, rubbing my back.
“It’s going to be okay,” Rosie says.
“He doesn’t want to know me. He’s got his own family, a wife and kids, and I guess he’s just living happily ever after. He doesn’t even want to say hello. He doesn’t even want to see me. What sort of man has a kid and doesn’t even want to see them?”
I sob and sob for what feels like ages until I feel someone standing over me. I look up, half-expecting to see Dalton. My heart drops when I realize it’s not him. It’s Jimmy, frowning, looking concerned.
“What’s going on?” he says in a gruff tone.
“Nothing. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” I take a deep breath.
Rosie continues to rub my back. “She just found out that her birth dad wants nothing to do with her. He doesn’t want to see her. He doesn’t want to know her. He doesn’t even want to meet her, and that sucks.”
Jimmy looks at me and frowns. “It means that much to you? Don’t you have a mom and dad?”
“Yeah, but he’s not my biological dad.” I bite down on my lower lip because I don’t want to be rude in front of Rosie. I know she loves her dad. “I just really wanted to find the man who was biologically connected to me to see if we could build a connection.”
He watches me for a couple of seconds. “You should let it go, girl,” he says and then rubs his forehead.
“I mean, Sage. You should let it go. What you don’t know can’t hurt you.
If he doesn’t want to be found, if he doesn’t want to contact you, there has to be a reason.
It’s likely for you,” he says. “Don’t take it personal or anything.
I’m sure if he could meet you, he’d feel differently. ”
I look up at him and offer him a small smile. “Thanks, Jimmy. I guess you might know who he is.” I sniff.
“Why do you say that?” He looks taken aback.
“I mean, Brett said that you might know him, and it’s okay. I’m not going to ask you to tell me who he is. I’m not going to show up at his door. I’m not Parker. I’m not a psychopath. I just … is he happy with his family?” I ask Jimmy, and he recoils.
“I couldn’t say,” he says, swallowing hard. “I should get back to the bar.”
“Okay,” I say. Because I’m hurt. I’m hurt that he won’t tell me more, but maybe he thinks I’ll do something that I shouldn’t.
“Sage,” he calls out to me. He steps forward again and offers me a rag.
“Wipe your tears, girl. You’re going to be okay.
You got friends and people here who love you, and that’s what matters.
Sometimes, what’s in the shadows and the dark should stay in the shadows and the dark. It can only hurt you.”
“I guess,” I say. But I don’t believe it.
All I feel is rejection and hurt and pain. My own dad knows that I exist, and he wants nothing to do with me. There is nothing that feels worse than that.